September 20, 2012 6:26pm EDTSeptember 20, 2012 4:47pm EDTSan Diego Chargers wide receiver Malcom Floyd is off to a fast start; if he can stay healthy, he's on pace to put up big numbers.

Michael Gehlken

Published on Sep. 20, 2012

Sep. 20, 2012

SAN DIEGO—Malcom Floyd is off to the fastest start of his career, but be careful before calling it a fluke. The San Diego Chargers wide receiver leads the team with 10 catches for 175 yards and a touchdown. His yardage total is more than triple the next-closest player on the team; running back Ronnie Brown has 52.

It's only two games. Continuing at this current rate—on pace for 80 catches, 1,400 yards and eight touchdowns—seems far-fetched for a 31-year-old who has yet to record a 1,000-yard season. But when he’s healthy, there's no doubting what Floyd can do.

Quarterback Philip Rivers said this week he considers Floyd to be one of the most underrated players in the league. It just has been a question of the veteran's ability to stay on the field.

In 2010, Floyd was on pace for 1,042 yards but missed five games to injury. In 2011, he led the NFL with 19.9 yards per reception but was sidelined four games. His numbers projected to 1,114 yards over a 16-game season.

Floyd (6-5, 225), who makes the rare, acrobatic downfield catches look routine, likely will see some of his production taper off as Robert Meachem's involvement expands, but for as long as he has his health, the current success is more sustainable than his modest season totals suggest.

No rest needed

Every Chargers defender who played last Sunday was a full participant at the start of this practice week. The way the game went, no one needed a rest.

In its 38-10 win over Tennessee, the San Diego offense controlled the clock with a 43:39 to 16:21 advantage, the franchise's longest time of possession in a game since 1978. The defense played 42 snaps compared with 81 for the offense.